How to Choose Impact Windows?

If you live in a coastal area that’s at risk for powerful windstorms, it’s hard to imagine a better home upgrade than impact windows. Also known as hurricane windows, impact-resistant windows are designed to do just what their name implies—resist damage from high-speed winds and the debris those raging winds often fling at homes. How so? The frames of high-quality impact windows are specially engineered to hold firm in the face of violent wind gusts. The glass is fortified to resist breaking into pieces when struck by wind-propelled branches, dislodged building materials, or the patio furniture that your neighbor forgot to secure. This means you, your belongings, and anyone sheltering in your home is protected from dangerous winds and rain that might invade your home through a broken window. As a bonus, well-constructed impact windows will also deter break-ins.

Sound wonderful? Yes, hurricane windows offer tremendous peace of mind, but only if you choose impact windows that are built to live up to their advertised benefits. Here are a few of the key features to look for:

High-Quality Materials & Advanced Construction Techniques

An ultra-strong window starts with exceptionally tough materials. At NewSouth Window Solutions, for example, we craft our impact windows with extra-thick uPVC vinyl frames and sashes that are reinforced with metal. This results in remarkably sturdy frames that can securely hold our impact-resistant glass, which we construct from two pieces of double-strength laminated glass that’s reinforced with a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer. Then we add yet a third sheet of energy-efficient glass.

Hurricane Impact Rating

If the windows you’re considering are truly impact windows, they’ll have a performance rating that indicates the highest windspeeds they’re designed for, with a Category 1 hurricane defined as having windspeeds of 74 to 95 mph and a Category 5 storm having windspeeds over 157 mph. At NewSouth, we offer impact windows that are rated to withstand the toughest storms.

Independent Testing

The best hurricane windows are tested and certified as impact resistant by third-party experts—not just the window company you’re buying them from. At NewSouth, we’ve not only had our impact windows tested to ensure they meet the highest standards, but we’ve had our installation techniques tested, too!

Would you like to learn more about the impact windows available from NewSouth Window Solutions? Contact us today to get started.